But to what extend is the referendum moving our cousins around the world?

“No-one has carried out a poll to determine how far the diaspora is interested but it’s certainly interesting the world as the number of enquiries that have come to me from across the globe in last few years has steadily risen.

“But the one country that seems not to be quite as interested is the USA,” claims the professor of History at the University of Edinburgh.

Unlike the Irish emigrants around the world, for those with Scottish roots their identity is not political.

“The Irish immigrants always had an interest in Irish politics because of the freedom struggle,” he continues.

“But for most of the period of the union Scotland has been stable so there was no great political causes. No freedom or liberation causes the diaspora could relate to. That’s why the connection has been distinctly apolitical, which sometimes runs risk or turning into sentimentality.”

Professor Devine is currently involved in filming a Spanish TV documentary called Homage to Scotland, based on Homage to Catalonia, George Orwell’s account of the Spanish Civil War.

He adds: “If countries like this, with hardly any affiliation are interested in our referendum, it stands to reason the diaspora must be interested as well.

“I think its going to be a very close thing between now and September,” says the historian.

“It’s difficult to know whether we’ll be worse off or better off but there is absolutely no doubt about the fact we can survive - after all we could be the sixth or seventh wealthiest country in the world.

“But the greatest noble laureate in economics could not tell you convincingly what will happen to the Scottish economy if the public go for the Independence vote.

“First of all, key issues are going to be resolved in post independence negotiations so it doesn’t matter how much information you get because this is a gamble.

“It’s a gamble to vote No as well as Yes and no one knows what’s going to happen in terms of the divergence between Scottish political culture and English political culture over the next few years.

“But people need to recognise this is a once in a lifetime decision. I think it’s probably a bigger gamble to go for Independence but it’s also a gamble to remain in the status quo.”